And despite the sale relating to water entitlements in south-east Queensland the group say it directly impacts irrigators in the southern basin.

Southern Riverina Irrigators chair Chris Brooks said the $80 million buyback is cause for concern when it comes to the Murray Darling Basin.

"The whole issue of water purchasing and trading, including the impact it is having on Australia's ability to continue growing food and fibre, needs serious investigation," he said.

"However, more than anything it is the latest in a long line of concerns around the way we are distributing our precious water resources.

IN OTHER NEWS:

"Under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan we have clearly got it wrong - whether it is questionable water purchases, storing over-bank flows, ruining river banks, native fish kills, or providing ideal conditions to breed European carp, it is obvious our water managers have made a mess of the basin plan."

The only thing the government hasn't been able to do is "fess up", according to Mr Brooks.

"In the farming world when you make a mistake you must acknowledge it, learn from it and make sure you don't do it again," he said.

"In the world of water management, it seems they make a mistake, refuse to admit it, then sit back and wait for the next mistake to rear its ugly head.

"Unfortunately, along the way they are ruining livelihoods, wrecking environments they are supposed to be protecting and threatening the safe, sustainable food supply the Australian farmers have delivered for generations."

Mr Brooks described the need to pause the basin plan as "bleedingly obvious" so it could be reviewed and reset.

"In this latest revelation there are claims the government has spent $80 million on the purchase of fake water.

"All taxpayers should be outraged at the possibility their hard-earned money has been squandered."

Mr Brooks said there is "generally a lack of understanding" around the connection between the northern basin, the southern basin and the end of the system in South Australia.

"If less water is flowing to the end of the system from the northern basin, for whatever reason, water storages in the southern basin make up the shortfall," he said.

"As a consequence, we get the zero-water allocation that has decimated NSW Murray Valley communities this year.

"Then we get the environmental damage which we have seen as authorities try to push too much water down the river to compensate for the shortfall.

"Our river system is collapsing through poor water management, water trading rules that need review and, possibly, suspect water deals.

"Let's have a pause, review and revise the basin plan to get it back on track."

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